K,  COLUMBIA  LIBRARIES  OFFSITE 

ri  HEALTH  SCIENCES  STANDARD 


J 


HX64099040 
QP45  .Am32  Abstract  of  the  Repo 


RECAP 


AlaEIlICAlT  KUii^ilE  ASSOCIATION 


ABS   RACT   OF  TEE  REPORT   ON  VIVISEGTIOII.  . .  • 


t 


I 


gpfs 


A2nJ2 


CoUege  of  JPJpsficiang  anb  ^urgeonjf 
Hiijrarp 


Digitized  by  tine  Internet  Archive 

in  2010  witii  funding  from 
Columbia  University  Libraries 


http://www.archive.org/details/abstractofreportOOamer 


Oaaa^^  ^"^ 


\ 


ABSTRACT 

OF 

The  Report  on  Vivisection 


ADOPTED   BY   THE 


AMERICAN    HUMANE   ASSOCIATION 
September  26,  1895. 


At  the  annual  meeting  of  The  American  Hoiane  Asso- 
ciation in  1894,  a  committee  was  appointed  to  obtain  a  census 
of  opinions  regarding  Vivisection.  The  report  of  this  com- 
mittee was  rendered  at  Minneapolis  in  September,  1895,  and  is 
now  published.  As  it  constitutes  a  document  too  large  for 
general  circulation,  an  abstract,  giving  the  results  and  a  few 
of  the  expressions  of  opinion  is  herewith  presented. 

Four  different  statements  of  opinion  regarding  Vivisection 
were  sent  out  for  consideration  and  choice  to  the  leading 
Clergymen,  College  Presidents,  Professors,  Medical  Teachers, 
Editors,  etc.,  throughout  the  United  States  ;  and  to  each  Physi- 
cian in  the  States  of  Massachusetts  and  Xew  York,  who  had 
been  in  practice  for  fifteen  years.  The  four  different  views 
represented  by  these  statements  were  : 

I.    Asrainst  all  Vivisection  whatever. 

II.    Favorable  to  Vivisection,  restricted,  and  supervised 
by  law,  if  it  be  without  Pain. 

in.    Favorable  to  Vivisection  when  restricted  to  useful 
ends  and  under  careful  supervision. 

rV.     For  Vivisection  without  any  limitations  or  restrictions 
of  any  kind,  except  the  will  of  the  experimenter. 


Over  two  thousand  expressions  of  varying  views  were  sent 
to  the  committee.  Of  these,  the  American  opinions  may  be 
thus  tabulated : 


In  favor  of  imlimitecl  and  unrestricted  vivisection  .    . 
Against  unrestricted  vivisection      

Total  Xo. 

Per  Cent. 

281 
1,753 

52 

13.4 

84.1 

2.5 

Total 

2,086 

lOO.O 

A  considerable  number  of  those  who  recorded  themselves 
as  in  favor  of  unrestricted  Vivisection  were  professionally 
connected  with  the  practice,  or  with  institutions  where  it  is  a 
method  of  study.  About  one-fourth  of  all  the  expressions  of 
opinion  were  against  Vivisection  under  any  circumstances. 

But  Vivisection  is  a  iDractice  with  which  Physicians  are 
principally  concerned.  How  do  they  stand?  What  is  the 
judgment  of  Medical  men  after  years  of  practical  experience 
with  the  problems  of  pain  and  disease?  Let  us  analyze  the 
medical  opinions  received  from  Massachusetts  and  'New  York. 
The  replies  received  from  physicians  in  these  States  may  be 
tabulated  as  follows  :  — 


For  vivisection  without  restriction  .  . 
For  vivisection  wlien  restricted  by  utility 
For  vivisection  when  without  pain  .  .  . 
For  the  total  prohibition  of  vivisection  . 
Obscure  or  evasive 

Total 


1,150 


Total  No. 

Per  Cent. 

220 

19.1 

513 

44.6 

186 

16.2 

207 

18. 

24 

2.1 

lOO.O 


We  see  no  reason  to  doubt  that,  with  slight  variations  only, 
these  proportions  represent  the  sentiments  prevailing  in  the 
medical  profession  throughout  the  country.  If  we  ask  the 
judgment  of  other  influential  classes  in  the  community,  we 
find  the  same  tendency,  even  more  pronounced.    In  the  fol- 


lowing  tables  we  have  indicated  a  number  of  opinions  from 
clergymen,  educators,  presidents  of  universities  and  colleges, 
and  those  engaged  in  college  work,  etc  :  — 


Clergy- 
men, 

Educa- 
tors. 

Authors. 

Editors. 

etc. 

Per 
Cent. 

For  Tivisection  -n-ithout  restriction    .    .    . 
For  vivisection  when  restricted  by  utility 
For  vivisection  when  without  pain     .    .    . 
For  the  total  prohibition  of  -slvisectiou      . 

Obscure  or  evasive 

0 
189 
116 
1+4 

6 

34 
84 
49 
52 
16 

4 
63 
26 
30 

2 

4.7 
41.3 
23.5 
27.7 

2.9 

Total 

455 

935             1 9- 

100.0 

_. 

It  seems  certain  that  the  majority  of  those  who  represent 
enlightened  public  opinion  in  this  country  are  not  favorable  to 
Vivisection  unlimited  and  unrestrained.  *  *  *  One  fact 
stands  clearly  out,  that  a  majority  of  the  class  to  whom  we 
have  appealed  agree  that  vjherever  Vivisection  ap2:)roaches  cruelty 
and  uselessness^  it  should  he  proMhited.  and  condemned  by  lav:. 

We  cannot  refrain  from  quoting  here  the  opinion  of  one  of 
the  most  distinguished  physicians  in  this  country,  —  Dr. 
Theophilus  Parvin,  LL.  D.,  late  president  of  the  American 
Academy  of  Medicine,  and  professor  in  Jefferson  Medical 
College,  Philadelphia,  as  an  illustration  of  what  we  believe  to 
be  the  position  of  the  majority  of  the  medical  profession  in 
this  country  who  have  reached  middle  age  :  — 

"It  is  wise  for  physicians  interested  in  Vivisection  to  recognize  tliat 
there  is  on  the  part  of  prominent  women  and  men  in  the  laity  a  strong 
sentiment  of  antagonism  to  experiment  on  animals ;  and  therefore  they 
sliould  avoid  all  such  work  not  promising  certain  benefit  to  man,  and 
anaesthetics  ought  always  to  be  employed.  I  sometimes  fear  that  the 
anaesthesia  is  frequently  nominal  rather  than  real,  else  why  so  many  and 
ingenious  contrivances  for  confining  the  animal  during  operations.—  con- 
trivances that  are  not  made  use  of  in  surgical  operations  upon  human 
beings,  their  immobility  being  secm-ed  by  profound  anaesthesia. 

"Should  the  law  restrict  the  performance  of  Vivisection?  I  think  it 
ought,  chiefly  as  an  expression  of  public  sentiment,  and  for  moral  eftect. 
...  I  cannot  think  that  Vivisections  done  for  teaching  purposes, 
simply  showing  what  has  been  proven  time  and  again  upon  hundreds  and 
thousands  of  victims,  are  justifiable  unless  anaesthesia  is  employed,  to  not 
merely  mitigate,  but  to  completely  abolish  suffering  of  the  animals.  Other- 
wise the  influence  of  such  experiments  is  injin-ious  both  to  the  operator  and 
to  the  tvitnesses  of  the  operation.^'    [Italics  are  ours.] 


4 

The  conclusions  adopted  hj  the  committee  were  as  follows : 

"I.  Vivisection  is  not  merely  a  method  of  scientific 
teaching  or  investigation,  but  a  practice  which  is  justly  subject 
to  ethical  restraints. 

"  II.  We  believe  this  practice  has  been  abused.  We  are 
compelled  to  admit  that  President  Parvin  was  right  in  declaring 
before  the  American  Academy  of  Medicine  that  there  are  some 
American  Vivisectors  'who  seem,  seeking  useless  knowledge, 
to  be  blind  to  writhing  agony  and  deaf  to  the  cry  of  pain,  and 
to  have  been  guilty  of  the  most  damnable  cruelties.' 

"III.  We  believe  in  the  potency  of  legislation  to  lessen 
these  abuses.  Again  we  agree  with  President  Parvin  that  'law 
should  restrict  the  jDerf ormance  of  Vivisection ; '  that  'Vivisec- 
tions done  for  teaching  purposes,  simply  showing  what  has 
been  proved  time  and  again  upon  hundreds  and  thousands  of 
victims,  are  not  justifiable  unless  anaesthesia  is  employed,  to 
not  merely  mitigate,  but  to  completely  abolish  the  suffering  of 
the  animals,'  We  are  glad  to  find  ourselves  in  perfect  accord 
with  a  scientific  authority  who  declares  that  'the  influence  of 
such  experiments  without  anaesthesia  is  injurious  both  to  the 
operator  and  to  the  vntnesses  of  the  operation.^ 

"IV.  But  far  transcending  in  importance  the  enactment 
of  any  restrictive  legislation  is  the  wide  dissemination  of  abso- 
lute, accurate  knowledge  of  Vivisection  as  it  is  to-day  carried 
on  in  the  seclusion  of  American  laboratories.  .  .  .  We 
recommend  that  the  American  Humane  Association  during  the 
coming  year  ask  of  each  physiological  laboratory  in  this 
country,  whether  it  will  accord  permission  to  the  President  of 
the  local  Humane  Society  or  to  his  authorized  representative 
to  be  present  during  any  experiments  upon  animals  that  may 
take  place,  simply  as  a  silent  observer,  and  entirely  without 
privilege  of  suggestion^  criticism^  or  unsolicited  remark.'''' 

Only  a  few  sentences  can  be 'here  quoted  from  each  of  the 
statements  of  opinion  to  which  the  following  names  were 
appended ;  and  these  must  not  be  taken  as  indicating  more  than 
the  general  trend  of  the  sentiments  expressed. 


I.    FOR  TOTAL  PROHIBITION  OF  VIVISECTION. 

"  Whether  any  useful  knowledge  can  thus  he  acquired  or  not  is  heside 
the  question.  Even  if  utility  could  be  proved,  man  has  no  moral  right  to 
attempt  to  benefit  himself  at  the  cost  of  injury,  pain  or  disease  to  the 
lower  animals.  The  injury  u-hich  the  practice  of  Vivisection  causes  to  the 
inoral  sense  of  the  incliviclual  and  to  humanity  far  outiveighs  any  jjossihle 
benefit  that  couhl  be  derived  from  it.  Dr.  Henry  J.  Bigelow,  Professor  in 
the  Medical  School  of  Harvard  University,  declared  that  "  Vivisection 
deadens  the  humanity  of  the  students."  Xothing  which  thus  lowers 
morality  can  be  a  necessity  to  progress.  *  *  *  Painless  or  painful, 
useless  or  useful,  however  severe  or  however  slight.  Vivisection  is  there- 
fore a  practice  so  linked  with  cruelty,  and  so  pernicious  in  tendency,  that 
any  reform  is  impossible,  and  it  should  be  absolutely  prohibited  by  law 
for  any  purpose." 

To  this  statement  464  sig-natures  were  sent,  of 
which  216  were  from  members  of  the  medical  pro- 
fession. One  member  of  the  Committee,  31atthew 
Woods,  M.  D.,  adopts  this  view.  Some  of  the 
supporters  of  this  position  are  as  follows  :  — 

Prof.  James  E.  Garretsox,   M.   D.,   Senior  Professor  of 

Surgery,  Medico-Chirurgical  College,  Philadelphia  :  — 

"  I  am  without  words  to  express  my  horror  of  Vivisection,  though  I 
have  been  a  teacher  of  anatomy  and  surgery  for  thirty  years.  It  serves 
no  purpose  that  is  not  better  served  after  other  manners." 

Forbes  Wixslow,  D.  C.  L.  Oxon.,  31.  R.  C.  P.,  London, 
Phj^sician  to  the  British  Hospital  for  Mental  Diseases,  Physi- 
cian to  Xorth  London  Hospital  for  Consum^Dtion,  etc. :  — 

"  In  my  opinion.  Vivisection  has  opened  up  no  new  %iews,  for  the 
treatment  and  cure  of  diseases.  It  is  most  unjustiflable  and  cruel,  and  iu 
no  way  advances  medical  science.  I  do  not  believe  iu  many  of  the  so- 
called  experiments  made  by  these  'faddists,'  especially  those  relating  to 
brain  operations  on  monkeys  and  the  consequent  theory  of  cerebral  local- 
ization. I  have  probably  more  experience  than  many  of  these  experimen- 
ters who  have  given  tlieir  opinions  to  the  world  as  based  on  what  they 
have  done ;  and  I  beg  leave  to  express  my  utter  disbelief  in  the  usefulness 
of  such  experiments  and  to  discredit  their  being  followed  by  any  good 
results  to  mankind  or  to  science  in  general." 

Prof.  William  J.  Morton,  M.  D.,  Professor  of  Xervous 
and  Mental  Diseases  at  the  Xew  York  Post-Graduate  Medical 
School  and  Hospital,  Xew  York  City  :  — 

*'I  only  wish  I  could  state  the  above  sentiments  stronger.  If  mankind 
suffers  from  disease  it  is  its  own  fault,  to  be  cured  by  rectification  of  the 
causes  which  lead  to  it;  and  it  is  subversive  of  the  high  and  moral  order 
of  the  progress  of  humanity  to  inflict  pain  or  death  upon  other  living 
animals  to  abolish  or  minimize  disease  or  sufEering  due  to  mankind's  own 
fault." 


(To  Dr.  Morton's  father,  T)r.  W.  T.  G.  Morton,  the  world 
owes  one  of  the  greatest  blessings  of  this  or  any  other  age, — 
the  comparative  conquest  of  pain  by  the  inhalation  of  ether.) 

•    B.  F.  Sherman,  M.   D.,  Ex-president  of  the  Xew  York 
State  Medical  Society,  Ogdensburg,  X.  Y. :  — 

"  If  it  could  be  restricted  to  utility  and  without  pain,  it  would  be  all 
right ;  but  if  permitted  at  all,  it  will  be  abused." 

Edwin  A.  W.  Harlow,  A.  M.,  M.  D.   (Harvard),  Wollas- 

ton.  Mass. :  — 

"  The  late  Dr.  Henry  J.  Bigelow,  in  a  lecture,  which  I  heard,  before  the 
Harvard  College  Medical  School,  condemned  the  practice  of  some  of  the 
students  in  Paris  in  their  Vivisections  on  horses,  without  anaesthetics,  as 
'infernal  inhumanity.'  Vivisections  in  all  Medical  Schools  should  be 
abolished." 

E.  H.  Hawks,  M.  D.,  Lynn,  Mass. :  — 

"  I  beUeve  that  Vivisection  blunts  the  moral  sense  to  such  a  degree  as 
to  become  a  strong  force  in  the  production  of  criminals." 

J.  D.  Buck,  M.  D.,  Professor  of  Xervous  Diseases  and  the 
Principles  of  Therapeutics,  and  Dean  of  Pulte  Medical  College, 
Cincinnati,  Ohio. 

Elmore  Palmer,  M.  D.,  President  (1890)  of  the  Western 
'New  York  Medical  Society,  ButFalo,  X.  Y. 

William  Ingalls,  M.  D.,  Boston,  Mass. :  — 

"  Absolute  prohibition;  for  unless  a  law  can  be  made  which  no  one  can 
get  away  from,  Vivisection  will  obtain  just  as  it  does  now." 

Allan  Mott-Eing,  M.  D.,  Arlington  Heights,  Mass. :  — 

"  Vivisection  is  an  unmanly  crime." 

Ira  Clark  Guptill,  M.D.,  M.  S.,  Xorthborough,  Mass. : — 

'•  No  legal  restrictions  would  be  conscientiously  observed,  and  there- 
fore I  strike  for  absolute  prohibition  by  law." 

Alex.  S.  McLean,  M.  D.,  Springfield,  Mass. :  — 

"Have  been  in  practice  forty-eight  years,  and  have  never  been  influ- 
enced or  governed  by  anything  I  have  seen  or  read  in  the  line  of  Vivi- 
section." 

Lorenzo  W.  Cole,  M.  D.,  Springfield,  Mass. :  — 

"  I  consider  it  barbarous  to  torture  anything  capable  of  feeling  pain,  to 
demonstrate  facts  which  have  been  proven  thousands  of  times." 

Ira  D.  Brown,  M.  D.,  Weedsport,  X.  Y.  :  — 

"  Every  word  in  the  above  statement  I  know  to  be  true.  The  practice 
of  Vivisection  is  inhuman,  cruel,  and  brutalizing  in  its  effects  upon  those 
who  witness  it,  while  no  information  useful  to  the  human  family  is  gained 


from  it.  In  our  medical  colleges  it  is  indulged  in  as  a  sport,  a  pastime,  to 
the  moral  degradation  of  the  students,  making  them  unlit  for  the  practice 
of  the  healing  art." 

Ptt.  Eev.  John  Scarborough,  D.D.,  Bishop  of  Xew  Jersey. 

Et.  Eev.  JOHX  Williams,  D.  D.,  LL.  D.,  Bishop  of  Con- 
necticut. 

Et.  Eev.  Hugh  Miller  Thompson,  D.  D.,  Bishop  of  Miss- 
issippi. 

Et.  Eev.  J.  H.  D.  WmGFiELD,  D.D.,  Bishop  of  X.  California. 

The  Very  Eev.  E.  A.  Hoffman,  D.  D.,  D.  C.  T..,  Dean  of 
the  General  Theological  Seminary,  Xew  York. 


II.    VIVISECTION  ALLOWABLE  IF  WITHOUT  PAIN. 

"Whether  that  experimentation  upon  living  animals  known  as  Vivi- 
section is  justifiable  or  not,  depends,  in  our  judgment,  excliisivelij  on  the 
question  of  pr^iia.  *  *  The  use  of  chloroform  and  ether  have  made  it 
possible  to  perform  certain  experiments  and  demonstrations  upon  living 
animals  without  the  slightest  pain,  and  these  only  we  regard  as  justifiable 
for  demonstration  or  research. 

'•  The  dangers  of  this  practice,  however,  are  so  many,  the  temptations 
to  excess  are  so  strong,  the  abuses  to  which  it  has  led  are  so  notorious 
and  deplorable,  that  the  decision  of  this  question  of  pain  should  not  be 
left  to  the  judgment  of  each  experimenter ;  but  the  whole  practice,  like 
the  study  of  human  anatomy  with  dissection,  should  be  regulated  by 
definite  laws,  confined  to  certain  objects,  permitted  only  to  competent 
and  trustworthy  persons,  and  restricted  to  licensed  places  which  shall  be 
open  at  all  times  to  inspection  by  the  Presidents  of  Humane  Societies  for 
Protection  of  Animals,  or  their  authorized  representatives." 


To  this  statement  of  ox^inion,  398  signatures 
were  affixed,  of  which  197  were  those  of  physicians. 
Among  these  were  :  — 

Albert  L.  Gihon,  A.  M.,  M.  D.,  Medical  Director,  U.  S. 
Navy,  in  charge  of  the  U.  S.  Xaval  Hospital,  Washington, 
D.  C. 

Prof.  Henry  M.  Field,  M.  D.,  Emeritus  Professor  of  Ther- 
apeutics, Dartmouth  Medical  College  :  — 

"  I  give  the  above  my  emphatic  approval.  But  if  Vivisection  thus 
restricted  and  guarded  is  not  attainable,  I  should  affix  my  signature  to 
No.  I." 


8 

Clinton  'Wagxer,  M.  D.,  Senior  Surgeon  of  the  Metropo- 
litan Throat  Hospital,  Xew  York  City :  — 

"  Vivisection  may  be  allowable  if  without  pain  and  performed  by  tiie 
Pi'ofessor  or  his  licensed  assistants,  and  only  in  the  laboratories  of  incor- 
porated medical  schools," 

Prof.  H.  D.  Champlix,  ]M.  D.,  Professor  of  Xervous 
Diseases,  Cleveland  University  of  Medicine  and  Surgery, 
Cleveland,  Ohio :  — 

"  I  do  not  believe  in  these  cases  any  t>TO  should  be  allowed  to  Vivi- 
sect; nor  do  I  believe  in  Vivisection  just  to  verify  old  experiments. 
Unless  something  of  great  value  is  to  be  gained  in  a  scientific  way,  it 
should  be  forbidden  even  under  the  influence  of  an  anaesthetic." 

Eev.  Frederic  P.  Marvin,  M.  D.  Troy,  X.  Y. :  — 

"I  believe  Vivisection  should  be  allowable  in  cases  where  pain  may  be 
avoided,  and  then  only  as  conducted  by  experts  for  some  definite  end  of 
sufficient  consequence.  It  should  never  be  allowed  for  mere  purposes  of 
demonstration,  or  as  a  method  of  instruction  in  the  class-room  or  in  the 
medical  college." 

(In  another  letter  to  the  Association,  Dr.  Marvin  says :  "Though  now  a 
minister  of  the  Gospel,  I  was  educated  to  the  profession  of  medicine  and 
was  graduated  from  the  College  of  Physicians  and  Surgeons,  'Medical 
Department  of  Columbia  College,  N.  Y..'  in  1870.  In  the  class-room  I  saw 
Vivisections  so  unqualifiedly  cruel  that  even  now  they  remain  in  my 
memory  as  a  nightmare.  I  am  persuaded  that  none  of  the  so-called  ex- 
periments upon  living  animals  that  I  witnessed  were  of  any  real  value  to 
me  or  to  my  fellow-students.") 

A.  X.  Brockway,  a.  M.,  M.  D.,  Xew  York  City :  — 

"J/?/  opinion  is  that  no  exx>erimenter  should  inflict  jjo in  on  any  aniinoJ' 
which  he  tcoidd  not  himself  be  willing  to  stiff er  in  the  same  cause.'' ^ 

AViLLiAM  Wallace  Gardner,  M.  D.,  Springfield,  Mass. :  — 

"I  believe  it  useful  under  proper  restrictions  to  save  human  suffering. 
What  I  should  be  willing  to  suffer  voluntarily,  the  loiver  order  of  animals 
should  be  obliged  to  suffer  for  humanity's  sake" 

Frank  W.  Ping,  M.  D.,  A.  M.,  Surgeon  to  Manhattan  Eye 
and  Ear  HosiDital,  Xew  York  City. 

X.  A.  MosSiiAN,  M.  D.,  Xew  York  City  :  — 

"Without  supervision,  indifferent  experimenters  might  say  that  they 
had  complied  with  all  the  requirements  if  they  gave  a  few  inhalations  of 
chloroform,  then  experimented  any  length  of  time  without  continuing  its 
use." 

Edward  ^\.  Avery,  M.  D.,  Brooklyn,  X.  Y.  :  — 

"Even  though  anaesthetics  are  used,  I  do  not  consider  Vivisection  jus- 
tifiable to  demonstrate  well-known  facts  or  to  gratify  curiosity." 


9 

Edgar  S.  Dodge,  M.  D.,  Xatick,  Mass.  :  — 

"Vivisection  should  be  under  the  hmitation  and  control  of  United 
States  law,  and  severe  penalties  should  he  applied  to  all  violations." 

Clarkson  C.  Schuyler  M.  D.,  Plattsburg,  X.  Y.  :  — 

"If  a  law  allowing  Vivisection  and  without  pain  cannot  he  enforced, 
then  I  am  for  the  absolute  prohibition  of  Vivisection." 

President  E.  Benjamin  Andrews,  D.  D.,  LL.D.,  Brown 
University,  Providence,  E.  I. :  — 

"  I  would  add  that,  if  thei'e  are  results  of  very  great  importance  obtain- 
able by  Vivisection  without  ansesthesia  or  with  limited  anaesthesia,  I 
would  permit  Vivisection  without  or  with  limited  anaesthesia  subject  to 
the  conditions  recited  above  in  the  last  paragraph  of  printed  matter." 

President  Andrew  V.  Eaymond,  LL.D.,  L^nion  College, 
Schenectady,  X.  Y. 

President  James  R.  Day,  D.  D.,  S.  T.  D.,  Chancellor  of 
the  Syracuse  University,  Syracuse,  X.  Y. 

Et.  Eev.  Thomas  A.  Jagger,  Bishop  of  Southern  Ohio. 

Et.  Eev.   George  F.  Seymour,  Bishop  of  Springfield,  111. 

Et.  Eev.  Daniel  S.  Tuttle,  Bishop  of  Missouri,  St.  Louis, 
Mo. 

Et.  Eev.  C.  K.  Xelson,  Bishop  of  Georgia,  Atlanta,  Ga. 

Et.  Eev.  O.  ^y.  AVhitaker,  Bishop  of  Pennsylvania. 

Et.  Eev.  Francis  K.  Brooks,  Bishop  of  Oklahoma  and 
Indian  Territories,  Guthrie,  Oklahoma. 

Mr.  William  Dean  Howells,  Author,  Xew  York  City. 

Mr.  Edward  Bellamy,  Author,  Chicopee  Falls,  Mass. 

Mr.  Brander  Matthews,  Author,  Xew  York  City. 

Prof.  Albert  Bushnell  Hart,  Harvard  College,  Cam- 
brdge,  Mass. 

Prof.  John  Bascom,  Williarastown,  Mass. 

Prof.  Albion  ^Y.  Small,  Ph.D.,  Professor  of  Sociology, 
L'niversity  of  Chicago. 

Prof.  John  Grier  Hibben,  Professor  of  Logic,  Princeton 
University,  Princeton,  X.  J. 


10 


III.    VIVISECTION  RESTRICTED  BY  UTILITY. 

"Vivisection  is  a  practice  of  sucli  variety  and  complexity,  tliat  like 
warfare  between  nations,  one  can  neither  condemn  it  nor  approve  it  unless 
some  careful  distinctions  be  first  laid  down.  *  *  *  Within  certain  limi- 
tations we  regard  Vivisection  to  be  so  justified  by  utility  as  to  be  legiti- 
mate, expedient,  and  right.  Beyond  these  boundaries  it  is  cruel,  mon- 
strous, and  wrong. 

"We  consider  as  wholly  unjustifiable  the  common  practice  *  *  *  of 
subjecting  animals  to  torture  in  the  laboratory  or  classroom,  merely  for 
the  purpose  of  demonstrating  well-known  and  accepted  facts.  We  hold 
that  the  infliction  of  torment  upon  a  living  animal  under  such  circum- 
stances is  not  justified  by  necessity,  nor  is  it  a  fitting  exhibition  for  the 
contemplation  of  youth. 

"We  believe,  therefore,  that  the  common  interests  of  Humanity  and 
Science  demand  that  Vivisection,  like  the  study  of  human  anatomy  in  the 
dissecting-room,  should  be  brought  under  the  direct  supervision  and  con- 
trol of  the  State.  The  practice,  whether  in  public  or  in  private,  should  be 
restricted  by  law  to  certain  definite  objects,  and  surrounded  by  every 
possible  safeguard  against  license  or  abuse." 


To  this  statement  (which  represents  the  senti- 
ment of  two  members  of  the  committee,  Titus 
Munson  Coan,  M.  D.,  and  Albert  Leffingwell, 
M.  D.,)  891  signatures  were  affixed,  including  555 
members  of  the  medical  profession.  By  a  few 
signers,  some  changes  in  phraseology  were  made  ; 
but  the  great  majority,  including  all  of  the  follow- 
ing persons,  affixed  their  names  without  modi- 
fying the  statement  in  any  way  :  — 

Herbert  Spencer,  Author,  London. 

Sir  Edwin  Arnold,  Author,  and  Editor  of  the  "London 
Telegraph,"  London :  — 

"It  is  with  this  that  I  agree,  detesting  and  dreading  unlicensed  Vivi- 
section. But  I  love  and  honor  Science  too  much  to  deny  her  any  right, 
exercised  with  true  scientific  spirit;  that  is,  with  reverence,  mercy,  and 
love  to  all  living  things.  I  would  hardly  allow  even  an  angel  to  vivisect 
without  anaesthetics." 

The  fourth  statement,  Sir  Edwin  Arnold  characterizes  as  "the  language 
of  scientific  devils." 

Kobert  Braithwaite,  M.  D.,  F.  L.  S.,  London:  — 

"...  After  facts  have  been  sufiflciently  established,  it  is  not  neces- 
sary to  repeat  experiments  for  individual  satisfaction,  still  less  for 
demonstration  to  students ;  the  facte  should  be  accepted  from  the  teacher 
equally  with  other  facts  which  cannot  be  demonstrated." 


11 

President  David  H.  Cochran,  Ph.D.,  LL.D.,  Polytechnic 
Institute,  Brooklyn,  N. Y. 

Prof.  T.  M.  Balliet,  M.  D.,  Professor  of  Therapeutics, 
Dartmouth  Medical  College,  Philadelphia,  Pa. 

Prof.  T.  Gaillard  Thomas,  M.  D.,  College  of  Physicians 
and  Surgeons,  Consulting  Surgeon  of  the  State  Women's  Hos- 
pital, N.  Y. 

Simon  Baruch,  M.  D.,  Physician  to  the  Manhattan  General 
Hospital,  X.  Y.  and  late  Physician  and  Surgeon  to  the  X.  Y. 
Juv.  Asylum. 

(Would  permit  Vivisection  for  demonstration,  under  anaesthesia.) 

Prof.  Geo.  Montgomery  Tuttle,  M.  D.,  Professor  of 
Gynaecology  in  the  College  of  Physicians  and  Surgeons,  Xew 
York. 

Prof.  Andrew  H.  Smith,  M.  D.,  Post-Graduate  School, 
Attending  Physician  of  the  Presbyterian  Hospital,  X.  Y. 

Prof.  Alonzo  Boothby,  M.  D.,  Associate  Professor  of 
Surgery,  Boston,  School  of  Medicine :  — 

"As  tlie  matter  is  a  very  important  one,  and  as  there  has  been  such  an 
unnecessary  and  absurd  use  of  animals  to  amuse  students  and  idlers,  I 
send  you  my  protest,  with  the  hope  that  your  object  is  to  lessen  the  evil." 

Daniel  Cook  M.  D.,  Xew  York  City. :  — 

"In  my  experience,  certain  Vivisections  are  performed  mostly  for  the 
most  unworthy  object  of  making  the  lectures  sensational  above  those  at 
other  colleges,— exactly  as  our  theatres  and  newspapers  vie  with  one 
another  in  furnishing  blood-cui'dhng  plays,  or  sensational  news." 

John  Allan  Wyeth,  M.  D.  President  of  the  Faculty  of  the 
Xew  York  Polyclinic  Medical  School  and  Hospital,  Xew  York. 

Albert  McScully,  M.  D.,  M.  Ch.,  L.  31.,  Queen's  Univer. 
sity ;  Formerly  Assistant  Demonstrator  of  Anatomy  in  Queen's 
College,  Ireland,  Xew  York  City;  — 

"A  person  actively  engaged  in  Vivisection  is  inclined  to  subscribe  to 
the  fourth  statement.  The  whole  mind  is  absorbed  in  the  subject;  and 
clear  unbiassed  reasoning  is  then  out  of  the  question.  I  felt  thus  niyseU", 
at  one  time,  when  full  of  my  subject,  as  well  as  full  of  youthful  ardor. 
After  mature  deliberation,  I  freely  and  unconditionally  subscribe  to  this 
statement." 

G.  B.  Hope,  M.  D.,  Xew  York  City  :  — 

"From  what  I  have  been  witness  to  in  several  steps  of  my  student 
career,  I  am  heartily  in  sympathy  with  your  investigation.  I  believe  i.i 
the  severest  control  governing  Vivisection.  Every  class-room  exhiiiition 
particularly  should  be  prohibited  as  useless  and  demoralizing.    I  would 


12 

have  every  experimenter  file  an  application,  giving  the  nature  and  inten- 
tion  of  the  operation,  and  subsequently  report  the  number,  size,  and 
quality  of  animals  employed,  with  the  results  obtained.  Such  a  course 
would  check  needless  and  vicious  operations." 

(Dr.  Hope  graduated  twenty  years  ago  from  a  medical  col- 
lege notorious  for  its  extreme  Vivisections.) 

Archibald  T.  Banxixg,  M.   D.,   President  City  Medical 

Association,  Mt.  Vernon,  X.  Y. :  — 

"I  well  remember  when  a  student  the  feelings  of  horror  that  arose  on 
seeing  certain  experiments.  .  .  The  first  experiment  was  altogether  an 
outrage ;  the  second,  though  of  some  utility,  had  already  been  suffi- 
ciently demonstrated,  and  a  mere  statement  from  the  professor  would 
have  accomplished  as  much  instruction  as  ocular  evidence.  The  impres- 
sion thus  made  on  the  unformed  minds  of  students  is  bad.  and  might 
have  a  tendency  to  develop  some  morbid  psychopathic  action.  I  have 
such  caes  in  view." 

John  L.  Schoolcraft,  M.  D.,  Schenectady,  X.  Y. :  — 

"The  continual  practice  of  Vivisection  by  assistant  lecturers  and  others 
to  show  what  has  been  thoroughly  proven  by  men  of  reputation,  should  be 
absolutely  prohibited." 

William  J.  Burr,  M.  D.,  late  Acting  Staflf-Surgeon,  U.  S. 

A.,  Xewark  Valley,  X.  Y. :  — 

"I  have  seen  most  kindly  conducted  experiments,  and  also  others  most 
abhorrent.  In  my  opinion,  Vivisection  should  be  under  restrictions,  and 
conducted  without  pain  " 

S.  P.  Moore,  M.  D.,  Munnville,  X.  Y.  :  — 

"lam  aware  that  we  are  apt  to  forget  what  is  right  in  efforts  after 
fame.  As  I  grow  older,  certain  scenes  before  a  class  of  young  men  seem 
to  me  of  very  doubtful  propriety.  Medical  students  are  apt  to  be  rough 
enough  without  such  sights." 

Jonathan  Kneeland,  M.  D.,  S.  Onondaga,  X.Y. :  — 

"If  we  know  less  of  the  mysteries  of  existence  by  refraining  from  tor- 
menting our  pets,  we  shall  at  any  rate  increase  the  total  joy  of  animal 
life." 

William  H.  Munx,  M.  D.,  Xew  York  City:  — 

"Xo  undergraduate  to  attempt  it;  only  by  a  professor,  and  with  the 
least  pain." 

John  Parmenter,  M.  D.,  Prof,  of  Anatomy  and  Clinical 
Surgery,  University  of  Buffalo,  Surgeon  to  the  Erie  Co.  Fitch 
and  Children's  Hospitals,  Buffalo,  X.  Y. 

Archibald  M.  Campbell,  M.  D.,  Consulting  Physician  in 
the  Home  for  Incurables,  X.  Y.  City,  Member  of  the  Academy 
of  Medicine,  Physician  to  the  X.  Y.  Infant  Asylum,  etc.,  Mt. 
Vernon,  X.  Y. 


13 

George  M.  Gould,  M.  D.,  Editor  of  the  "Medical  Xews,'' 
Philadelphia,  Pa. :  — 

"Whenever  possible,  under  anaesthesia.' 

(Dr.  Goiikrs  views  regarding  vivisection  have  been  well  expressed  in 
his  recent  work,  "The  Meaning  and  Method  of  Life"  from  wliich  we  quote 
aud  italicize  the  following:  "If  a  very  limited  use  of  vivisection  experi- 
ment is  necessary  for  scientific  and  medical  progress,  it  must  be  regulated 
by  lair,  carried  out  with  jealous  guarding  against  excess  and  against  suf- 
fering, and  the  maimed  animals  painlessly  killed  when  the  experiment  is 
complete.  The  practice  car-ried  on  by  conceited  jackaruipes  to  prove  over 
and  over  again  already  ascertained  results,  to  tninister  to  egotism,  for  di- 
dactic j^mposes,  —  these  are  not  necessary,  and  must  be  forbidden") 

Hermax  Myxter,  M.  D.,  Professor  of  Surgery,  Xiagara 
UniversitY,  Buffalo,  X.  Y. 

James  E.  Kelly,  M.  D.,  F.  R.  C.  S.,  Consulting  Sm-geon, 
French  Hospital,  Xe\Y  York  City. 

O.  B.  Douglass,  M.  D.,  Surgeon  to  the  3Ianliattan  Eye 
and  Ear  Hospital,  late  President  of  the  Medical  Society  of  the 
County  of  Xew  York,  etc. 

Charles  S.  Mack,  M.  D.,  Professor  of  Materia  Medica 
and  Therapeutics,  Uniyersity  of  Michigan,  Ann  Harbor,  3Iieh. : 
"...    Kegard  as  useless  much  that  some  regard  as  useful." 

President  Martin  Kellogg,  LL.D.,  University  of  Cali- 
fornia, Berkeley,  Cal. 

President  Hexry  AVade  Eogers,  LL.D.,  Xorth\Yestern 
Uniyersity,  Evanston,  111. 

President  Elmer  H.  Capex,  D.  D.  Tufts  College,Mass. 

President  Charles  Kendall  Adams.  LL.D.,  Uniyersity 
of  Wisconsin,  Madison,  Wis. 

R.  H.  Thlhston,  LL.D..  Director  of  Sibley  College,  Cornell 
tJniYersity,  Ithaca,  X.  Y. 

C.  C.  Eyerett,  D.  D,,  Dean  of  Harvard  Divinity  School. 
Cambridge,  Mass. 

George  Hodges,  D.  D.,  Dean  of  Episcopal  Theological 
School,  Cambridge,  Mass. 

James  O.  ^Murray,  Dean  of  Princeton  Uniyersity.  Prince- 
ton, X.  J. 

Cyrus  Xorthrop,  LL.D.,  President  University  of  Minne- 
sota, Minneapolis,  Minn.  :  — 

"Vivisection  is  practiced  more  than  is  necessary;  it  ought  undoubtedly 
to  be  restrained.  Doubtless  it  has  its  uses  in  teachingj  but  its  value  in 
investigation  has  been  overrated." 


14 

Prof.  IViLLiAM  James,  M.  D.,  Author;  Professor  of  Psy- 
chology, Harvard  University,  Cambridge,  Mass. :  — 

"  If  public  opinion  could  constitute  the  check,  I  should  prefer  that ;  but 
that  would  necessarily  be  ineffectual.  I  think  there  will  be  great  difficulty 
in  defining  by  law  what  is  legitimate,  or  in  having  whatever  law  were  made 
discriminately  administered.  In  principle,  however,  I  have  not  a  moment's 
hesitation  in  standing  up  for  the  vivisector  being  outwardly  responsible 
for  his  acts." 


IV— V.    VIVISECTION  WITHOUT  RESTRICTIONS. 

"Vivisection,  or  experimentation  upon  living  creatures,  must  be  looked 
at  simply  as  a  method  of  studying  the  phenomena  of  Life.  With  it  moral- 
ity has  nothing  to  do.  It  should  be  subject  neither  to  criticism,  super- 
vision, nor  restrictions  of  any  kind.  It  may  be  used  to  any  extent  desired 
by  any  experimenter  (no  matter  what  degree  of  extreme  or  prolonged 
pain  it  may  involve)  for  demonstration  before  students  of  the  statements 
contained  in  their  text-books,  as  an  aid  to  memory;  for  confirmation  of 
theories ;  for  original  research;  or  for  any  conceivable  purpose  of  investi- 
gation into  vital  phenomena.  We  consider  that  sentiment  has  no  place  in 
the  physiological  laboratory;  that  animals  have  there  no  "rights"  which 
Man  is  called  upon  to  notice  or  respect.    *    *    * 

To  the  above  statement  109  signatures  were 
affixed,  including  two  Presidents  of  leading  Uni- 
versities. Another  statement,  slightly  differing 
from  this  but  affirming  the  same  principles, 
received  172  names.  For  signatures,  see  the 
EeiDort. 


EXTRACTS  FROM  LETTERS. 

Hon.  Area  X.  Waterman,  Illinois  Apellate  Court,  Chicago, 
m. :  — 

"  Civilization  in  its  moral  aspect  consists  in  a  heightened  sympathy 
with  and  consideration  for  those  men  or  animals  in  our  power.  It  is 
impossible  to  train  a  child  to  indifference  as  regards  the  suffering  of  a 
dog,  and  at  the  same  time  to  be  mindful  of  the  rights  of  little  children. 

"  It  is  immaterial  whether  he  who  proposes  to  torture  be  an  ignorant 
savage  or  a  distinguished  savant.  ...  To  whomsoever  in  the  cause 
of  science  the  agony  of  a  dying  rabbit  is  of  no  consequence,  it  is  likely 
that  the  old  or  worthless  man  will  soon  be  a  thing  which  in  the  cause  of 
learning  may  well  be  sacrificed.  There  is  no  reason  for  thinking  that 
Torquemada  or  Eobespierre  were  naturally  any  more  cruel  than  the 
educators  who  endeavor  to  add  briiliancy  and  piquancy  to  their  lectures 
by  an  exhibition  of  the  manner  in  whicli  a  dumb  brute  behaves  when  dis- 
sected alive." 


15 

Eight  Eev.  Gegrge  F.  Seymour,  LL.D.,  Bishop  of  Sprino-- 
field :  " 

"  I  consider  that  the  animated  world  beneath  man  is  a  sacred  trust 
committed  to  him  by  the  Creator,  and  for  the  right  and  just  administration 
of  which  he  will  be  held  sternly  accountable.  Hence,  I  would  place  very 
severe  restrictions  upon  Vivisection,  and  allow  its  practice  only  in  cases 
where  it  was  employed  for  settling  questions  which  we  have  good  reason 
to  believe  could  not  be  answered  except  by  such  experiments.  I  would 
exclude  absolutely,  and  forbid  under  penalty  by  law,  all  exhibitions  to 
students  of  Vivisection  as  illustrating  ascertained  and  recorded  facts  of 
science." 

From  H.  R.  Brissett,  M.  D.,  Low  ell,  :Mass. :  — 

"Anaesthesia  is  good  while  it  lasts,  but  I  have  often  seen  it  pass  off, 
and  the  experimenter  go  on  with  the  work  in  hand  without  renewing  it; 
and  all  the  class  saw  with  revulsion  that  there  was  real  torture  in  the 
case." 

From  Clayton  L.  Hill,  M.  D.,  Buffalo,  X.  Y.  :  — 

•'  I  know  from  personal  experience  that  medical  and  surgical  research 
does  not  demand  the  fearful  suffering  and  waste  of  life  that  is  entailed 
apon  the  lower  animals.  I  have  seen  many  hundreds  of  Vivisections, 
and  not  one  of  them  developed  a  new  truth  or  an  idea  not  already  well 
established.  Vivisection  as  practised  in  medical  schools  is  simply  a  sort 
of  theatrical  performance  for  the  benefit  of  the  students  and  the  glory  of 
the  professors." 

From  LuiGi  Galvaxi  Doane,  M.  D.,  Xew^  York  City :  — 

"Put  me  down  as  the  antagonist  of  Vivisection  in  any  form.  The 
ofiBce  of  the  physician  is  to  heal  wounds  and  to  save  life,  not  to  take  it." 

From  George  H.  Payxe,  M.  D.,  Boston,  Mass  :  — 

"  I  believe  fully  that  we  have  no  right  to  torture  God's  dumb  creatures, 
and  that  it  does  little  or  no  good  to  experiment  upon  animals." 

J.  W.  Thomson,  M.  D.,  Xew  York  City :  — 

"We  do  not  believe  that  Vivisection  ever  gave  knowledge  that  led  to 
the  relief  of  a  single  human  being  from  pain,  or  in  any  way  helped  to 
ameliorate  human  suffering.  This  diabohcal  practice  is  totally  needless 
as  well  as  dastardly  inhuman.  No  man  who  has  been  guilty  of  Vivisec- 
tion ought  to  be  allowed  to  practise  as  a  physician.  Imagine  any  one 
coming  from  a  torture-chamber  to  see  a  sick  child,  or  to  have  a  mission  to 
help  suffering  humanity!  How  can  one  who  is  callous  to  animal  suffering 
yearn  to  help  his  fellow-man?  " 

From  A.  Rose,  M.  D.,  Xew  York  :  — 

"There  can  be  no  nobler  cause  than  the  prevention  of  cruelty  to 
animals  in  Vivisection.  During  the  Middle  Ages  tortures  were  inflicted 
under  the  very  eyes  and  strict  supervision  of  awfully  learned  physicians, 
and  thus  we  see  that  learning  does  not  prevent  us  from  cruelty.  We 
have  to  be  reminded  of  this  example." 


16 

From  President  AT.  P.  Johnston,  Geneva  College,  Pa. :  — 

"  My  opposition  to  Yivisection  is  uot  so  much  because  of  the  pain  to 
the  animal  dissected  (it  dies  in  a  little  while) ,  hut  because  of  injury  to  the 
moral  nature  of  the  animal  dissecting,  that  lives  probably  for  many  years, 
and  has  other  chances  on  other  animals  than  dogs  and  cats  !  " 

From  John  H.  Keysee,  Hartford,  Conn. :  — 

"  I  was  Superintendent  of  the  Sti'anger's  Hospital  in  New  York  at  a 
time  when  Vivisection  was  freely  practised  upon  animals  by  young  stu- 
dent physicians.  From  that  experience  I  formed  the  opinion  that  it  was 
wicked,  wanton,  and  cruel  to  clothe  these  young  inexperienced  men  with 
despotic  power  over  animals,  and  I  forbade  the  practice.  Mercy  towards 
the  helpless  brute  creation  is,  in  my  judgment,  ample  argument  against 
Vivisection,  and  it  ought  to  cease." 

From  John  Boardman,  M.  D.,  Buffalo,  X.  Y.  :  — 

"  I  do  not  believe  that  any  real  good  comes  to  the  ordinary  student 
from  class  Vivisection.  On  the  other  hand,  in  my  opinion,  the  humane 
part  of  man  is  injured  and  the  diabolical  part  comes  nearer  to  the  surface." 

From  Thomas  B.  Fowler,  M.  D.,  Cohocton,  X.  Y. :  — 

"  I  do  not  think  the  impression  left  on  the  mind  of  the  average  medical 
student  as  a  result  of  witnessing  the  mutilation  of  animals  is  one  that 
really  adds  to  his  available  store  of  knowledge,  or  tends  to  aid  him  in 
prescribing  for  suffering  humanity.  It  is  impossible  to  estimate  the 
baneful  effects  of  such  experiences  on  the  minds  of  men  whose  actions 
are  largely  governed  by  impulse  or  propensity." 


Copies  of  this  Abstract  may  be  had  at  twenty  cents  per  dozen  copies.  The 
REPORT  itself  is  not  for  general  distribution,  but  a  limited  number  of  copies 
may  be  had  at  fifteen  cents  each,  postpaid.    Address  : 

P.  O.  Box  215, 

Providence, 
R.  I. 


COLUMBIA  UNIVERSITY  LIBRARY 

This  book  is  due  on  the  date  indicated  below,  or  at  the 
expiration  of  a  definite  period  after  the  date  of  borrowing, 
as  provided  by  the  rules  of  the  Library  or  by  special  ar- 
rangement with  the  Librarian  in  charge. 

DATE  BORROWED 

DATE  DUE 

DATE  BORROWED 

DATE  DUE 

C28(239)MI00 

QP45  Amo2 

COPY  1 

American  humane  association 

Abstract  of  the  Report  on  Yivi- 


